After months of intense work, endless stress, and being in polluted cities, the most awaited time of the year (holidays) finally arrives. However, being outside home poses numerous risks for an unaccustomed and unprepared body. It may turn out that holidays are, in fact, quite a stress test for us.
Just falling asleep in the midday sun can leave you red, swollen, and sore by evening. Eating too much almost guarantees stomach pain. Hot air can attack our larynx and cause hoarseness. Feet barely dipped in warm sea water can immediately encounter a jellyfish or a sea urchin. And then there are mosquitoes, ticks, flies…
Generally, children adapt very quickly and easily to new conditions. Any changes in lifestyle or climate, if not extreme, are easily tolerated, and children adjust quickly. Despite this, it is important to remember that children most often encounter health problems during summer trips.
Insect bites and stings
Bites from mosquitoes, as well as stings from bees, wasps, or hornets, are quite common during various hikes or camping trips. Due to different types of biting apparatus—used either for blood-sucking (female mosquitoes) or for defense (bees, wasps)—they can cause wounds and transmit allergenic “saliva,” toxins, or pathogens. Although insect stings are frequent, they rarely cause complications requiring medical intervention. However, in people with hypersensitivity to insect venom, a severe allergic reaction that endangers life may develop.
Therefore, in such individuals, after a bite:
- Remove the stinger as quickly and gently as possible, to avoid squeezing its contents (which may contain pathogens) into the skin. It’s best to use the tip of a match or a similar object.
- Avoid pulling out the stinger with fingers, as this can squeeze out more venom and worsen symptoms.
- Remember that a scratched wound can become infected, so larger bites should be disinfected and covered with a sterile bandage.
- To relieve pain, cold compresses or ice cubes applied locally and wiping the bite area with vinegar or lemon juice are helpful.
- To reduce itching, a special gel can be used.
In case of a bite or sting in allergic individuals and especially if symptoms like difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or tongue, dizziness, or loss of consciousness appear, immediate action is required:
- Administer an antihistamine (currently available in easy-to-use auto-injectors or tablets).
- Call emergency services immediately.
- If signs of shock occur (difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure), perform life-saving procedures such as artificial respiration and cardiac massage.
Prevention
Avoid walking barefoot in grass, wear colorful and bright clothes with floral patterns, use strongly scented cosmetics, and stay away from beehives, blooming gardens, or orchards.
Snake bites
Venomous snakes usually inhabit hot climates. In Poland, which increasingly becomes a travel destination for tourists and emigrants, only one venomous species is protected—the common viper (adder). However, during trips to other countries, the risk of bites increases significantly. In these regions, venomous snakes include rattlesnakes, cobras, and various species of vipers.
In case of a bite:
- Rinse the wound with water, removing any remaining venom on the skin surface.
- Immobilize the bitten limb to limit venom absorption.
- Apply cold packs to reduce pain, swelling, inflammation, and to slow venom spread.
- Immediate medical attention is essential; a specific antivenom should be administered as soon as possible.
Poisoning from mushrooms
Even small amounts of mushrooms in food can cause severe symptoms in children. Due to their lack of nutritional value and only flavoring properties, mushrooms should not be included in the diet of young children.
Poisoning from mushrooms is a common problem. The most dangerous and often fatal is poisoning with death cap (Amanita phalloides). The severity increases with the delay in onset of symptoms, which may be caused by toxins or improper hygiene (secondary bacterial infection, storing mushrooms from one day to the next, eating cold mushrooms, or mixing mushrooms with alcohol). Main symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, anuria, abdominal and head pain, consciousness disturbances up to coma.
Quick and decisive first aid is crucial. If the poisoning is suspected, treat immediately even before symptoms appear:
- Induce vomiting.
- Seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Poisoning by wolf’s bane (aconite)
Both the fruits, which resemble red and black berries, and other parts of this plant are toxic. They can contaminate the skin, eyes (conjunctiva), or mucous membranes of the mouth. The berries of the wolf’s bane contain very strong toxic substances called alkaloids (atropine and scopolamine), which are toxic to the nervous system. Consuming just 2-4 berries by a child can cause fatal poisoning. Symptoms may appear within minutes to several hours after ingestion and include:
- Hyperactivity,
- Visual and auditory hallucinations,
- Hallucinations,
- Disturbances in vision,
- Dryness of the mouth,
- Flushing of the face,
- Pupil dilation,
- Vomiting,
- Difficulty swallowing,
- Heart rhythm disturbances,
- Rapid breathing,
- Urinary retention,
- Constipation,
- Seizures,
- Loss of consciousness.
First aid involves inducing vomiting and transporting the poisoned person to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible.
Awareness of these dangers and appropriate action can help us remain calm even in such cases.
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